UK Pak community demands exemplary punishment for guilty players

CARDIFF Pakistani nationals here in UK expressed their concerns over match fixing scandal and called for strict action against the players and officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) if proven guilty, as the disgraceful act of cricketers had disappointed the whole nation. Subtain Shah, 27, a student, said the cricketers had brought a bad name to the country. Now, we are reluctant to introduce ourselves as Pakistani in the public, as it is because of the shameful deed of the players, who sold the respect of nation for a handful pounds, he lamented. Najeeb Khan, 43, a taxi driver, said the players were heroes of the nation. When they come here to play cricket, we (the Pakistani community) reach the stadium to support them but after Lords incident we are very disappointed. They must be penalized, he demanded. Saif Ali, 23, a student, said that Pakistanis were known because of cricket and cricketers all over the world, but it was the first step towards the disaster of the cricket in the country. There should be no complacency regarding the match fixing and all those players should be put behind the bars, who brought a bad name of the country, he added. Tenzeel, 30, an employee, said that the action should be taken against the players as well as the top officials of the board. It was PCBs responsibility to keep its eyes on the conduct of the players. What were the team manager Yawar Saeed and his deputy Shafiqat Rana doing during the tour? Were they only enjoying and wasting the money of the board?, he asked. Mohammad Yousaf Khan, 51, a shopkeeper, began to shed tears while talking about the current cricket scandal and said that all Pakistanis felt immense embarrassment over the acts of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir. This trio humiliated the whole nation in the world and be given exemplary punishment he viewed. Meanwhile, three Pakistan cricketers facing spot-fixing accusations should be banned for life and prosecuted if the charges against them are proven, the countrys top diplomat in London said on Sunday. Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif have been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following last weeks allegations in the News of the World newspaper. Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistans high commissioner (ambassador) to Britain, has been one of the trios most vocal supporters. On Friday, he accused the ICC of trying to play to the public gallery with the suspension, adding they had no business to impose it. But in a new interview with BBC radio on Sunday, he said the three players would face a most draconian penalty if they were found guilty of spot-fixing, while insisting they were innocent until proven otherwise. Its the responsibility of the ICC to take any appropriate action and only they have the authority to ban them for life, Hasan said.

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